Hemming a Kilt, Sewing Accessories that Help

[Barb T]

I routinely use a Babylock blind hemmer when I do kilts with hems (typically for dancers). I use transparent nylon thread, and it works great. Can't even see the stitches, and it's much faster than stitching by hand.

B

[O'Neille]

I feel better about doing it now that I know I have good company. I'd never done a blind hem before. I always had my taylor do it for me. I was looking at tackling this selvedge by hand and remembered I had the attachment. After sewing the pleats by hand yesterday the dimples relaxed and are invisible now. If the thread I was using wasn't such a great match I'd have gone with the clear thread.

[Kiltman]

Sometimes there is no choice but to use a machine. I must admit I've never thought of using transparent thread. Thanks, Barb

[Barb T]

I use a sewing machine in only three places on a kilt, and I think all three are perfectly legitimate. If a kilt needs a hem, I can't see any reason not to use a blind hemmer. If the bottom edge of the lining apron/underapron needs to be hemmed because it has a raw edge, I'm perfectly happy to do that little hem on the machine. And, if I'm home, I'll sew the main seam of the top band by machine to save time. If I'm away, I'll do it by hand. There really isn't much of anywhere else in a kilt that you can use a machine to do a proper job, though.

Cheers,

Barb